1. business and industrial
2. logistics
3. air freight

Commercial invoice
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A guide to completing your export commercial invoice
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As one of the world's largest customs brokers, UPS has created this guide to help ensure fast and efficient
customs clearance by breaking down the commercial invoice into easy-to-understand sections.
The commercial invoice (or pro forma invoice) is
the customs document that you’ll use most often
when shipping outside the U.S. Required for all
non-document shipments, it is the primary form
used for importation control, valuation and duty
determination.
Supplied by the shipper, the commercial invoice
identifies the products being shipped, including
a description and value of the goods, as well as
shipper information. It may be used by customs
authorities to assess applicable duties and taxes.
If you choose not to use UPS Paperless® Invoice,
three signed copies — one original and two
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copies — are required. Place a copy inside your
package, or in one package if shipping several.
Always be accurate in your declaration. State as
much as you know about the goods being exported.
Make sure your documentation clearly communicates the reason for your export.
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Don’t worry if you don’t have some of the information at hand like a Harmonized Tariff code or
Schedule B number. By choosing UPS, we can
help you determine those entries.
Explore this guide and uncover some tips from
our top compliance experts.
Ensure all your packages move smoothly! Some shipping systems such
as UPS CampusShip® and UPS Internet Shipping submit shipment data to
UPS once you select the Ship Now button. Other shipping systems such as
WorldShip® require end-of-day processing to electronically transmit your
shipment details to UPS. In this case, once you have finished processing
packages, complete the following steps prior to your pickup:
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1. Select the Pending Pickup group in the Shipment History window.
2. On the Home tab, select End of Day.
3. Confirm you wish to proceed. WorldShip will print the End of Day reports.
For more information, see http://www.ups.com/media/en/worldship_
user_guide.pdf.
Our expert brokerage knowledge combined with UPS® logistics will help you master exporting.
Find out how to prepare each section of your invoice step-by-step.
A: FROM
TIP: Getting the date of sale/transaction
correct is particularly important when goods
are being purchased under a letter of credit.
Please include full details, including Tax ID,
contact name, address with postal code and
country, and phone number (very important).
B: SHIPMENT DETAILS
Not necessarily the date that the shipment is handed to UPS. This should be
the date the transaction took place in the
seller’s records. (The date on the shipping
label should show the date the shipment
is handed to UPS.)
6 Terms of sale (Incoterms)
Terms of sale (Incoterms) refers to the
billing terms on the invoice. The terms
state who (seller or buyer) is responsible
for paying various costs — ship­­ping,
insurance, import tax and duty charges —
and clarify the point at which the goods
change ownership. See the Incoterms
section at the end of this guide for more
information.
2 Shipment ID
3 Date
5 Purchase order number
Purchase order number is assigned
by the shipper, if applicable.
The shipment ID is the 11-digit version
of the tracking number when using UPS®
technology to complete the invoice
(i.e., 1YE595012345678901 becomes
Shipment ID E5950123456).
4 Invoice number
The invoice number is assigned
by the shipper, if applicable.
1 Waybill number
The waybill number is the tracking
number shown on your shipping label
(automatically generated when you
create your ship­ment in UPS® shipping
systems). If there is more than one
package, this should be the lead,
or first, tracking number.
UPS Paperless Invoice simplifies your paperwork by eliminating the need for paper commercial invoices. It allows you to integrate order
and shipment processing electronically, and
it reduces customs holds by streamlining the
customs clearance process through transmitting
information digitally.
Learn more about UPS Paperless Invoice or
register at http://www.ups.com/content/us
/en/bussol/browse/paperless_invoice.html
• Enroll on ups.com®
• Allows you to turn on/off by lane or shipment
• Streamlines shipping preparation processes
and reduces associated labor costs
• Eliminates redundant data entry, reducing
the chance of error
• Minimizes the risk of paperwork lost in transit
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educes customs holds
• Allows for faster shipment processing
7 Reason for export
The shipper will include the reason for
export. For example, whether the shipment is a sale, a gift, an item for repair, etc.
• Helps ensure customs values remain confidential when shipping directly to customer
• Decreases need for ink and paper, promoting
environmentally friendly workplace practices
UPS International Customer Service Center
1-800-782-7892 ups.com/international
C: SHIP TO
I: UNIT VALUE/TOTAL VALUE
Please include full details, including Tax ID,
contact name, address with postal code and
country, and phone number (very important).
D: SOLD-TO INFORMATION
2 Total Value
Units refers to the quantity of the mer­
chandise, i.e., the number of individual
items per description type being sent.
Abbreviation for Units of Measure,
whether the items are listed as indi­vidual, bundle, roll, etc.
F: DESCRIPTION OF GOODS
This is where you need to provide a detailed
description of what items are in the package(s).
The details of the description should include:
• What it is
J: ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
• What the item’s serial or part number is,
if applicable
Indicate if you filed Electronic Export Information
(EEI), or if you wish for UPS to file the EEI on
your behalf. (EEI is required when the value at
the commodity line level is greater than $2500,
or when the shipment requires an export license
regardless of value.)
For example, an accurate description would be:
½ inch diameter carbide steel drill bit for machining metal, part 123-456. The detailed descriptions
you provide are used by the desti­nation brokerage
department to assess and apply the import country’s duty and tax on the goods being sent.
G: H
ARMONIZED TARIFF CODE
OR SCHEDULE B NUMBER
If available, include this to assist the clear­ance
of your goods. This global system of classifica­tion
speeds up exports, reduces delays and avoids
potential additional fees and charges.
TIP: Don’t worry if you do not know some
or all of the Harmonized Tariff codes or
Schedule B numbers for the goods in your
shipment. UPS has a team of expert customs
brokers that can provide assis­tance for you
and ensure there is no customs delay.
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ECLARATION STATEMENT, SHIPPER
AND DATE
A Declaration Statement could be required
on the invoice for commodities that require
a license or license exemption. If applicable,
provide your export license number and type,
ECCN number if required, or exemption if a
license is not required.
6 Other
Other is for any other charges placed on
the shipment by the shipper (e.g., handling
charge).
7 Currency
Currency indicates what currency
the values are listed in (e.g., USD,
GBP, EUR, etc.).
8 Total invoice amount
Total invoice amount is the total after
all discounts are taken off and all
charges are added up.
9 Total number of packages
Total number of packages is the number
of packages included in the shipment.
10 Total weight
Total weight (kg or lbs) is the shipment
weight, including packaging.
Finish your shipment! Be sure to
complete your End of Day processing prior to pickup. This will ensure
UPS has your package data and
minimize delay.
TIP: If needed, the purpose for the export
should be included here in order to ensure
that your goods are considered appropriately
during clearance — such as when the goods
are not being sold but entering a country
temporarily for repair or for an event.
H: COUNTRY OF ORIGIN (CO)
This is the country where the goods were manufactured or assembled, NOT the country they are
being shipped from (e.g., if goods made in Italy
are being shipped from the U.S., the CO is Italy,
not the U.S.).
5 Insurance
Insurance is the amount the shipper or
receiver pays to cover the cost of replacing
the shipment if it is lost or damaged.
Also add any other information that could be
useful here.
4 Freight
Freight is the cost to transport
the shipment.
• What materials it’s made of
• What the item is used for
3 Invoice sub-total
Invoice sub-total is the total amount
after any discount or rebate.
3 Currency
TIP: Include a valuation figure that is com­
pletely accurate to your knowledge. If
customs officials at the destination country
have reason to believe the valua­tion of
your goods is not correct, this can be a
reason for them to hold a package for
further investigation. It’s important to recognize that all materials have an intrinsic
value, too. For example, even if you’re
sending a product sample, your valuation
should at a minimum represent the cost
of the materials it took to produce it.
2 U/M
2 Discount/Rebate
Discount/Rebate is the discount
or rebate given by the shipper.
Currency indicates what currency
the values are listed in (e.g., USD,
GBP, EUR, etc.).
1 Units
1 Invoice line total
Invoice line total is the total value of all
contents, excluding packaging, included
in the shipment.
Total unit value is the value of all items
combined (e.g., 15 shirts at $10 each
have a total value of $150).
E: UNITS/U/M
1 Unit Value
Unit value is the value of the items
individually (e.g., 15 shirts at $10
each, the unit value is $10).
Please include full details, including Tax ID,
contact name, address with postal code
and country, and phone number.
L: FINAL COST/VALUE INFORMATION
1 Shipper
2 Date
Enter your title and signature here.
The date you (the shipper) made
the statement.
UPS International Customer Service Center
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are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved. 01972148 11/14
1-800-782-7892 ups.com/international